Regional Rental Assistance Program

The Regional Rental Assistance Program is a rental assistance program for individuals who are very low income. The purpose of the program is to assist adults with a serious mental illness in accessing decent, safe, affordable housing.

The Regional Rental Assistance Program operates much like the federal Housing Choice Voucher program also known as Section 8. Rental assistance and, in some cases, assistance with security or utility deposits is provided to assist an eligible individual or family to rent an apartment or house from a private landlord in the five county Region 6 area.

For more information please contact Manager of Housing Services at 402-444-7718 or 402-444-6524

Transition Age Youth Rental Assistance Program

The Transition-Aged Youth Rental Assistance Program (TAYRAP) is a 18 month rental assistance program for individuals aged 18-26. The program is set up to operate much like the federal Housing Choice Voucher program (Section 8) operated by public housing authorities. Just as with the Section 8 program, there are three parties involved in the process: The TAYRAP assisted participant or tenant; the property owner; and Region 6.

The purpose of the program is to assist young adults with the transition from youth into adulthood and independent living. The participant would receive services through Professional Partners while living in a safe affordable home. The housing program is designed to act as a transition subsidy or temporary subsidy until the participant is paying full rent or rental assistance is available to the participant. The TAYRAP assisted participant or tenant is responsible for finding his/her own suitable housing within the geographic area covered by Region 6.

In order to participate in the program participants must…

Be an adult, age 18 or older.

Live in Cass, Dodge, Douglas, Sarpy, or Washington Counties of Nebraska.

Be low income in accordance with federal definitions.

Be a U.S. citizen or have legal immigration status.

Participate in the Region 6 Professional Partner Program. To read more about the Professional Partner Program, click here.

For more information contact the Manager of Housing Services 402-444-7718 or review the TAYRAP Brochure.

RentWise Program

RentWise is a tenant education program originally created by the University of Wisconsin Extension and adapted by the University of Minnesota Extension. The program is licensed under the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension. The program assists renters in identifying how to find and maintain decent rental housing. Renters who complete this six module program of earn a certificate of completion to show potential landlords and property managers that they want to be good tenants.

The RentWise program is intended to help renters better understand the benefits of good communication, improve ability to resolve problems with neighbors and landlords, move less often and increase housing stability, learn more about searching for safe, affordable housing that meets their needs, and better manage resources and money.

Persons who participate in the RentWise education program report they are more likely to use a spending plan with affordable rent, complete a neatly written rental application, request screening criteria when applying for rental housing, and practice good communication skills with landlords and neighbors. RentWise participants are less likely to rely on shelters and more likely to be in permanent housing. Participants report an improvement in their housing and they positively evaluate their current neighborhood. Additionally, participants are more likely to feel positive about their life, and to expect their standard of living to improve within the next three years.

RentWise is for any individual who needs rental housing, young adults moving into independent living, individuals and families in emergency shelters or transitional housing, new immigrants or renters who need money management skills to build the credit and rental histories needed to qualify for a mortgage.

For more information contact the Manager of Housing Services 402-444-7718 or review the RentWise Brochure